Beef with 'Rief: Saints to answer many questions in 2013

The journeyman defensive coordinator has never coached a team to the playoffs as a coordinator, but the Saints are the best team he has coached by a wide margin. Ryan has previously guided defense of the Raiders, Browns and Cowboys, and the 3-4 specialist brings a new look and a new attitude to a defense that quite frankly can’t be any worse in 2013.

NEW ORLEANS -

The New Orleans Saints season is finally here people.

So many questions are ahead, not just in the opener against the Atlanta Falcons, but for the entire season.

Sean Payton watched and waited all last season as the Saints went through a 7-9 season.

Can Payton make a difference? I think Sean Payton is worth at least 3-4 wins.

He takes a lot of the pressure off Drew Brees, who was the coach on and off the field. Could Drew bounce back from a 19 interception year? The only other time he's thrown for more was back in 2010 when he chunked 22 picks. Trust me, I don't play football, but just watching Brees try to do everything last year looked stressful. I believe he has the usual 40 touchdown and 4,500-yard season because of a better running game.

Mark Ingram will finally live up to his potential of a first round pick. Ingram was one of the Saints' best backs in the preseason, and I see it carrying over to the regular season.

The receivers will also be something to watch out for as the season goes along. Three guys: Kenny Stills, Nick Toon and Andy Tanner never played in a real game. But with No. 9, they will be very productive. Plus Robert Meachem is back, and that helps.

It couldn't have been a worse season for their defense, literally. It's been talked about how they were the worst defense in NFL history, giving up 7,042 yards.

Now they have Rob Ryan and his new 3-4 scheme, but how will they look when the lights finally come on for the regular season?

The first team looked good for the most part in the preseason, but we all know those game don't count. I think it will take 3-4 games before they actually hit on all cylinders. The front 7 will be key on helping out Greer, Lewis, Harper and Jenkins in the secondary.

I'm going out on a limb, but defensive end Akiem Hicks will be a pro bowler one day. He's one of the best kept secrets for the Saints.

The obvious position I'm anxious to watch is the middle of the defense. Injuries, shall I say, have decimated the linebacker corp. No Will Smith or Victor Butler for maybe the entire season, and Vilma is out till Week 9. Not a good way to start the season, but they can only go up after last season.

My prediction for the season for the Saints? 10-6. That's a tough schedule, especially the stretch when they play the Cowboys, 49ers, Falcons, and Seahawks. So I'll stick to 10-6, maybe, maybe 11-5.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."